Advertised MPG overrated?

There are a lot of factors when you're talking about getting the fuel economy of a motorcycle out of a 5-passenger car. You're right, only a few are lucky enough to see 60, but there may be several things you can do to improve your own situation.

Read this:

http://priuschat.com/forums/kb.php?mode=article&k=23

 

If you want true 55 - 60 MPG get an Insight. The thing is if you drive with a lead foot you will get low 40's or even high 30's and most people complain about it. If you take it easy and follow the posted speed laws you can achive 50 and with some tricks (and after break in) go even higher. One of the biggest problems is people speed up to quickly just to get to the next intersection and slam on the breaks. That will kill your MPG. also don't keep your foot on the gas pedal when going down hill. That sounds obvious but I know people do it. And if you're stuck in slow moving traffic for more than 10 minutes your MPG is screwed! Also remember that on the freeway, the faster you go over 55, the more you are sucking gas. So if you tend to drive 80mph then there you go.

 

The EPA fuel economy is reported as:
MPG (city) - 60
MPG (highway) - 51

EPA acknowleges that its estimates are unrealistic (inflated) and plans to update its protocols.

 

well, they do say on the sticker that real-world driving may produce varying results. and they can't change the EPA numbers.

name one other car that gets 40mpg...

 

To add to this line of thought -- I don't think that Toyota ever advertised that the car gets the EPA mileage. They just state the EPA figures as does every other car maker for their cars.

It is generally assumed most people know that no cars get the EPA mileage -- but it is helpful as a comparative figure. Prius is amongst the very best on a comparative basis in both real world mileage and those EPA ratings.

 

I normally get 41-45 mpg but I drive up and down hills a lot. Increasing my tire pressure to 40/38 helped a lot to get better millage. However when I go from my normal route, its easy to get 52-54 on the freeway and over 60 off. With most cars you can never get the EPA milage, the Prius is no different.

The EPA milage test is standardized so that all cars are tested the same. Toyota can't report anything other than what they get from the test. Since the prius gets better milage than most other cars the change is bigger.

If you drove a car rated at 12 mpg and got 10 you would think I only lost 2 mpg. But thats a 17% loss. The same 17% loss on a prius would translate from 60/50 to 49/41.

In the EPA test, the car is fully warmed up as well, I have found it takes about eight miles to get the engine warmed up so if you have short trips you milage will suffer as well.

The EPA should redesign the test so that the results are more realistic.

 

I went over 60 mpg, but I worked at it. I found the best route too and from work, added a block heater. There are ways to increase milage if you want to or you can just drive it. Many people do not really know their milage. Did you, before you got the Prius? Did you keep track? Almost no cars show your milage from moment to monent.

 

I rented a 05 in Houston in September for 2 days. I drove mostly highway miles 560, to Dallas and back. Outside air temperature was close to 97 degrees, I drove at speeds in excess of 75 mph. with the air conditioning on high. My miles per gallon was 49.9. I put in as much gas as it would take and drove and put in as much gas as it would take. Now I know altitude plays a part but so does a heavy foot. My rental had around 8500 miles on the odometer. Drive as though you had an egg under your foot try to anticapiate slow downs go easy on passing etc. I hope your mpg inproves.

 

madelynclair,

What are your driving habits? Short trips or are you commuting to Longmont or somewhere down the turnpike?

I live in Westminster and commute up Hwy 287 to Broomfield. Total one way is just over 5 miles. The route is really hilly, which is good and bad.

So far I'm averaging high 40's. My first tank was 48.76 MPG (calculated, 51.4 by the MFD). I'm just on my second tank (so far 51.1 MPG by the MFD over 270 mi). I havn't increased the tyre pressure or anything like that to squeeze out more mileage.

The other comments that people have posted can really help you get your mileage up. Definitely take their advice seriously, they know what they're talking about. I just wanted to chime in since I live in the area and am getting pretty good mileage. I definitely have to work at it. I don't just "drive the car" but try to adjust my driving based on the feedback from the car.

 

Definetely let us know more about your driving habits. That can make a huge impact. Before my Prius, I drove 80-90 all the time on the highway and averaged about 16mpg in my Jeep. With the Prius, I rarely hit 80 and usually am between 65 and 75. On back roads, I'm right at the speed limit, or if I'm on a downhill section, slightly above.

My goal was 50mpg, so I adjusted my driving as necessary to achieve that and I've been getting it since day 1. As others have stated, terrain is a big factor, so you may have a harder time getting there.

Also as stated, EPA tests are done very specifically. And it seems that people haven't ever complained about them before, but now that people are buying cars specifically for fuel economy, they are paying much more attention to it. Look up the Jeep, it's EPA rating is NOT 16!

 

I get 56-59 MPG on almost every tank and my highest to date was 818 miles at 65.1 MPG. The record was done in PA and was 1397 miles at 110 MPG. Good mileage is definitely achievable. My wife drives like a speed demon and gets 53 MPG in hers.

 

Care to share some of your techniques? -- this is impressive

 

I'll bet being in Texas doesn't hurt...

 

Control is what sets the Prius apart and makes it shine brighter than most other automobiles. Have any of you driven, heard of or seen another car that gives the driver so much direct, real-time control (which is well described in the above posts and throughout the forum) over what's happening under the hood and through the drivetrain as this car? I doubt it.

 

What kind of anal idiot would bother to track mileage anyway?

http://www.w8kc.com/priusmileage.htm

 

Staying in denial by not actually knowing does make life a whole lot easier.

 

You would not want to drive behind him. :lol:

 

Most VW TDIs. My last tank was 48.3 mpg averaging 65-85 mph.